Rail clamp



Dec. 20, 1938. I D. ALEXANDER 2,141,076

' RAIL" CLAMP Filed July 21, 1937 HHIHI fill Afar/h ya.

by; MX/V'M Patented Dec. 20, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention is a rail clamp particularly intended for use infastening the rails forming the runway of a traveling crane.

Referring to the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a top view.

Figure 2 is an end view.

Figure 3 is a. side view.

The rail l rests on a channel 2 carried by a beam 3. In view of theextremely wide tread of a crane runway, the rail I must be veryaccurately aligned and must be positively held against lateral shifting.

The clamp itself constitutes a rectangular part 4 of sufiicient Width toprovide room for two bolt holes 5, this part being constructed to bridgefrom the top of the base of the rail to the top of the channel 2, bolts6 passed through the bolt holes and through holes formed in the channel2 and the flange of the beam 3 serving to cause this part to firmly holdthe rail against upward displacement.

This rectangular part 4 has an upwardly extending end 4 in which atransverse screw-hole is formed, a setscrew I provided with a lock-nut 8being threaded through this hole. The end part 4 is so arrangedrespecting the part 4 as to cause the setscrew 1 to bear against the webof the rail I.

As shown by the drawing, the clamp being described is used in pairs,with the two clamps of each pair positioned opposite one another and thesetscrews l in substantial alignment. When the bolts 6 are slightlyloose it is possible to shift the rail laterally by screwing in one ofthe setscrews and unscrewing the other. In this manner very accuratealignment of the rail may be effected. After this, the bolts 6 may betightened as much as possible and the lock-nuts 8 screwed against theends 4 In this manner the rail may be anchored without any loss ofalignment.

During the service life of the installation it is impossible for therail to shift out of alignment unless there is actual breakage of someof the parts involved. Proper design will, of course, eliminate thispossibility.

I claim: 5

1. A rail clamp comprising a part for bridging between the top of thebase of a rail and the support on which the rail rests, said part havingan upwardly extending portion in which a transverse screw hole isform-ed, a screw provided with 10 a lock-nut being threaded through saidhole and said part being provided with releasable holddown means, saidscrew being adapted to engage the web of the rail fastened by said clampand to be used to effect both rail aligning movement 5 and to hold saidrail against lateral shifting when the same is aligned and said clamp isheld down by said means, the latter being capable of holding said clampagainst movement transverse of the rail when loosened to permit railaligning 20 movement.

2. A rail fastening including the combination of a rail clip for holdingthe base of a rail down on a suitable support but at times permittingthe base of the rail to be free for transverse movement independent ofthe clip, releasable means for applying downward pressure on said clip,said means holding said clip against movement transverse of the railboth when tightened, and also when loosened to relieve the downwardpressure on said clip, and means engaging said clip and extending toengage the web of a rail whose base is held down by the latter, the lastnamed means being in screw-threaded engagement with said clip whereby itmay be used to transversely shift the rail when the first named means isloosen-ed to relieve downward pressure on said clip, said first namedmeans functioning to hold said clip against movement transverse of saidrail whereby to permit said operation of said last named means.

DAVID T. ALEXANDER.

